Mālō ni, mālō e lelei, tēnā koutou katoa.

Sange Malama is a proud Tokelauan–Tongan wāhine, raised in Timaru and shaped by the people and communities of the Rangitata electorate. She is a mother of two, an aunty to many, and someone who lived many lives before stepping into public life. Her values are grounded in collective wellbeing, cultural identity, and the strength of community.

Sange has been in the places where real life happens - in factories, on fishing boats, in cleaning jobs, in school halls, in community spaces, and now in the homes of some of the region’s most vulnerable families. In her work as a School Attendance Officer, she stands alongside whānau, teachers, health workers, social sector teams, volunteers, and multicultural groups. These connections shape her understanding of the challenges families face and the resilience they carry. When you’ve lived many lives, you don’t just understand one part of the community, you understand how all the parts fit together.

As part of one of the first Pasifika families to settle in the region, Sange carries intergenerational responsibility. She directs the region’s Pasifika Festival, creating space for Pasifika people to be visible, celebrated, and connected. As a mother, she knows what families need not just to get by, but to thrive. And as someone grounded in her whakapapa and her community, she leads by listening, because communities already hold the answers to many of the issues they face.

Sange didn’t grow up seeing herself in Parliament. But she did grow up alongside the workers, families, and communities whose lived realities deserve to be reflected in the decisions that shape their lives. Her presence isn’t about her, it’s about widening the space so others can see themselves reflected and feel like they belong.

Through her work, her relationships, and her lived experience, Sange carries the strength, resilience, and heart of Rangitata with her.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou, fakafetai lahi lele, malo ‘aupito.